中国反日デモ 邦人の安全確保へ沈静化図れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 22, 2012)
Beijing should ensure safety of Japanese in China
中国反日デモ　邦人の安全確保へ沈静化図れ（8月21日付・読売社説）

Following the illegal landing by Hong Kong activists on one of the Senkaku Islands last week, anti-Japanese demonstrations have spread in China. The Chinese government should quickly take action to calm the situation.
　香港の活動家による尖閣諸島への不法上陸事件を契機に、中国各地で反日デモが拡大している。中国政府は事態の沈静化を急ぐべきである。

Anti-Japanese demonstrators, who support China's territorial claim to the Senkaku Islands, took to the streets in about 25 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, on Sunday. In Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and other cities, demonstrators became violent and smashed the windows of Japanese restaurants.
　尖閣諸島に対する中国の領有権を主張する反日デモは１９日、北京や上海、広州など約２５か所で発生した。広東省深センなどでは、デモ隊が暴徒化して、日本料理店のガラスが壊される事態となった。

The large-scale demonstrations imperil Japanese who live in China. The Chinese government has a weighty responsibility for causing turmoil by tacitly approving the demonstrations. We urge the Chinese authorities to do everything they can to secure the safety of Japanese individuals and companies in the country.
　大規模なデモは、中国で暮らす大勢の邦人を脅かした。デモを事実上黙認し、結果的に混乱を招いた中国政府の責任は重大だ。中国当局は邦人や日系企業の安全確保に万全を期してもらいたい。

The Chinese government obviously is trying to counter Japan's moves over the islands, but at the same time it apparently wants Chinese people to vent their frustrations over economic disparities and other domestic issues through the demonstrations. Some observers say the "anti-Japan card" was used as a tool in the power struggle ahead of the National Congress of the Communist Party of China in autumn in which the Chinese leadership will undergo a complete change.
　中国政府には、対日牽制(けんせい)は無論として、経済格差など国民の不満のガス抜きを図る思惑もあったのだろう。指導部交代が予定される今秋の共産党大会を控え、「反日カード」が権力闘争に使われた、との見方も出ている。

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Attitude unlikely to change

It is highly likely China's anti-Japan attitude will remain unchanged. The Japanese government needs to respond to the situation while keeping in mind that problems stemming from China's domestic circumstances will continually occur.
　中国の反日姿勢は、今後も変わらない公算が大きい。中国側の事情に基づくトラブルは絶えない、ということを日本政府は肝に銘じ対処していく必要があろう。

The Chinese government criticized the landing by 10 Japanese on Uotsurijima island, one of the Senkaku Islands. However, this criticism is way off the mark. Vice Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae is correct in rebutting the protest by Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua by saying, "The latest move [by Japanese individuals] comes against a backdrop of the landing by Hong Kong activists."
　中国政府は日本人１０人による尖閣諸島・魚釣島上陸を批判した。だが、これはお門違いだ。佐々江賢一郎外務次官が、中国の程永華駐日大使からの抗議に「香港の活動家による上陸が背景にある」と反論したのは当然だ。

What the Japanese government should do first is gradually strengthen the management of the Senkaku Islands. The Tokyo metropolitan government, which plans to purchase three of the islands, has applied to the central government for permission to land on the islands.
　日本政府がまず取り組むべき課題は、尖閣諸島の管理を淡々と強化することである。購入を計画する東京都は、上陸許可を政府に申請している。

It is essential for the central government to steadily put the Senkaku Islands under state control in cooperation with the metropolitan government.
　政府は、都と連携して、国有化を着実に進めることが肝要だ。

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Territorial protection essential

Aside from a bill to revise the Japan Coast Guard Law, which would allow JCG officers to apprehend criminals on uninhabited islands, it is also an urgent task to develop a system to protect Japanese territory and territorial waters.
　無人島での海上保安官の犯罪検挙を認める海上保安庁法改正案とは別に、領土・領海を守る体制を整備することも急務である。

Akihisa Nagashima, a special adviser to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, said on a TV program that the government "will review territorial patrol operations, including relevant legislation."
　長島昭久首相補佐官は、テレビ番組で「領域警備の体制を法制度も含めて見直す」と述べた。

Jin Matsubara, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, said, "We should treat illegal entry into the country to violate Japan's sovereignty separately from ordinary illegal entry and heavily punish the former illegal entrants."
松原国家公安委員長は「領土主権を侵害する目的の不法入国は、通常の不法入国と区別し、重く罰すべきだ」とも指摘している。

Japan's preparedness for national crises such as unlawful intrusions into its territory is woefully inadequate.
　外部からの不法侵入など国家的な危機への備えはなお脆弱(ぜいじゃく)だ。

Japan had to take this problem to heart on a number of occasions after the incursion of North Korean spy ships in 1999. At that time, The Yomiuri Shimbun proposed "territorial patrol operations" as a new duty for the Self-Defense Forces and that the SDF be commissioned to conduct "guard-and-watch" missions.
　１９９９年の北朝鮮工作船の領海侵犯事件以来、日本はこうした問題点は、幾度となく痛感してきたはずである。当時、読売新聞は「領域警備」を自衛隊の新たな任務とし、警戒監視に当たらせることを提言した。

Illegal landings by anti-Japan organizations, such as in the latest case, may be a frequent occurrence in the future. The government should also consider legislation to beef up territorial patrol operations.
　今回のような反日団体による不法上陸事件は、今後も続発しかねない。領域警備を強化する法制度も検討すべきだろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 21, 2012)
（2012年8月21日02時06分 読売新聞）